Poor response for Dasara expo leaves vendors in losses

 Even after a month of opening, the Dasara Exhibition on the Dasara Exhibition Grounds, is yet to get a good response from people. Shopkeepers fear huge losses and are seeking compensation from the government for the damages that were caused due to the recent rains.

Despite the long weekend and a series of holidays, not many people are visiting the exhibition. The heavy rains that lashed the city recently left the Dasara Exhibition Grounds flooded and the stalls damaged.

Vinod Kumar, a contractor, said that he suffered a loss of Rs 75 lakh in Dasara 2016. “Though the expo commenced a month ago, not many people are visiting the exhibition due to rains. The stall owners have lost goods worth lakhs of rupees and have suffered huge losses,” he said.

Another stall keeper said that the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) should own the responsibility for the loss and the government should compensate them.

“Officials failed to provide basic facilities and also ensure the safety of stall keepers. Rainwater entered the premises and the wall of the rajakaluve which flows next to the Grounds collapsed. The wall would not have collapsed if it was well-maintained,” he said.

Vendors had staged a protest against the authorities demanding compensation for the losses due to rains. As rainwater entered the grounds, a large consignment of goods and materials of the stall keepers got damaged. As many as 32 machines and eight power generators at the Amusement Park went defunct due to the rains. Rainwater also damaged the Capitol Hill model which was erected at a cost of Rs 80 lakh.

Govt stalls yet to open

Meanwhile, stalls allotted to the government departments and corporations are yet to open.

Due to rainfall, the construction of the stalls got delayed as many under-construction stalls got damaged. While the stall allotted for Karnataka Sheep and Wool Development Corporation will be opened today (October 21), the stall of the Karnataka State Women’s Commission is still under construction.

DH News Service